The group posed beside Moscow landmarks such as the city’s famous metro system. Picture: supplied.Source:Supplied

So the activists, from Europe and Latin America, donned football shirts in the same colours. They then posed together by various Russian landmarks and street scenes, in the process creating the flag.

“Unfortunately, there are still countries where homosexuality is persecuted and symbols such as the rainbow flag are forbidden, even under prison terms. Russia is one of them,” the group said online.

“That is why, taking advantage of (Russia) hosting the World Cup, at the same time that Pride Month is celebrated in the rest of the world, we decided to denounce this situation and take our flag to the streets of Russia.

“Yes, in broad daylight, in front of the Russian authorities, society and the whole world. With pride,” the group said.

The rainbow flag, seen here at London’s Pride march on 7 July, has long been a symbol of gay rights. Picture: Jack Taylor/Getty Images for Pride In London.Source:Getty Images

Brazilian protester Eloi Pierozan Junior admitted his partner was none too pleased about the risk he was taking.

“’Are you crazy?’ said my boyfriend. ‘It’s very dangerous’. I told him: ‘I do not care about risk; it’s a project that I really want to participate in.’”

In one shot they even posed next to a policeman in a country where “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” is banned. Picture: supplied.Source:Supplied

The group got ’round to watching some footy too. Picture: supplied.Source:Supplied

Eric Houter, from the Netherlands, said he took part after being urged to by his brother.

“I am not homosexual … but when my brother called me asking to be in his place, that it was important and that he could not go, I was clear about it. Let it be seen that heterosexuals can also fight for this.”

Argentinian Vanesa Paola Ferrario said she wanted to create the flag to make a stand for those in the country that cannot.

“Russia, for me, is the symbol of homophobia, with a government that makes discriminators feel protected by the law, and where people are not free to love. And I loved doing it; reinterpreting the shirts of FIFA itself (macho association par excellence).”

Despite the images going viral, Colombian protester Mateo Fernández Gómez said Muscovites were oblivious to the true meaning of the group.

He told NBC News people took photos of them mainly because they were surprised to see competing fans chatting together.